Liverpool can continue their run on top of the league when they host Newcastle at Anfield on Monday (January 1) in an exciting New Year's Day clash.
Having ended 2023 on a winning note in their Boxing Day victory over Burnley at Turf Moor, Liverpool hope to begin 2024 on a similar note against a struggling Newcastle side.
Jürgen Klopp's side are now level on points with Aston Villa at the top of the table and were handed a major boost after Arsenal dropped points for a third game in a row as they lost 2-1 away to Fulham on Sunday (December 31).
Manchester City, however, remain lurking and can leapfrog Villa with their game-in-hand against Newcastle next Saturday (January 13).
Regardless of their league standing, it's been a positive first half of the season for Liverpool who've lost just once this season with that defeat to Tottenham in September coming under controversial circumstances.
It's surely the best time for the Merseyside club to take on Newcastle who've lost four of their last five league games as pressure continues to mount on Magpies boss Eddie Howe.
Despite spending most of the season in the top six, their recent form has seen them drop to ninth in the table amid a difficult run with Liverpool, Manchester City, and Aston Villa to come in their next three league fixtures.
Mounting injuries and the addition of European football have hurt Newcastle who look a shell of last year's side as retaining Champions League football looks unlikely this season.
As if fortunes weren't hard enough, they take on a Liverpool team that they last beat in 2015 and have not won at Anfield in the Premier League since 1994.
Liverpool are on a five-match winning streak against Monday's opponents and got the better of them at St James' Park earlier this season thanks to a late brace from Darwin Núñez.
LFC Globe Verdict
Liverpool are taking on Newcastle at the perfect time and there'll be no better moment but to grab three points and begin 2024 on a winning note.
In what is Mohamed Salah's last game before heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, he'll be itching to bag before jetting off while Darwin Núñez will follow up his goal last week against Burnley with a sixth league goal of the season in what will be a 2-0 win for Liverpool.
